Author: Eric Deabill

SCRANTON – Faithful of the Diocese of Scranton woke up Easter Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had passed away during the night at his residence in Vatican City at the age 88 – less than 24 hours after he conferred what would be his final “Urbi et Orbi” blessing on Easter Sunday in Rome.

Though the Holy Father had been hospitalized for a month – beginning in mid-February – for a double lung infection, the news of his death came as somewhat of a surprise, given that since his release from the hospital he continued to make public appearances across Rome up until the day before he died.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant and homilist for a Pontifical Mass of Remembrance in the Cathedral of Saint Peter for His Holiness on Tuesday afternoon, April 22, the day after the Vatican announced his passing in the early morning hours (Rome time) following the Easter Sunday celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord.

In welcoming the many faithful who came to the Mother Church of Scranton to attend the special memorial liturgy, Bishop Bambera stated the Eucharistic celebration for the Tuesday of the Octave of Easter offered an opportunity to “remember in a very special way our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who was called home to the Lord just yesterday.”

The Bishop continued by inviting the congregation to join him “with gratitude in our hearts for the blessing of (Pope Francis’) ministry, for the gift of his life, and for all that he expended on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ.”

In assuming the name Francis for his papal title, Pope Francis set the tone for his papacy by honoring the selfless, simple ministry and way of life of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The beloved Pontiff’s characteristic geniality, always evident through his signature servant leadership and as a champion for the downtrodden and those most in need of God’s mercy, was also reflected in his papal motto, Miserando atque eligendo, meaning “lowly but chosen.”

Among those mourning the Pope’s passing, while honoring his enduring legacy of humble service and welcoming, affable nature – much like a lovable brother, father or grandfather – was Ann Marie Sadowski, a member of Saint Patrick Parish in West Scranton.

“I’m here today because I can’t be in Rome to mourn our Pope. This is as close as I can get,” she said. “Like everyone, I was praying for his recovery and I was so happy to see him on the balcony at Saint Peter’s for Easter Sunday. We all thought he was improving since he was able to be out there to bless the people.”

More than 250 people attended the Remembrance Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter.

For Donna Wright of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Dingman’s Ferry, the Mass for Pope Francis was a fortunate coincidence, since she had made the trip to Scranton for her monthly spiritual direction meeting at The University of Scranton.

“I learned about the Mass on the diocesan website and I just happened to be in the area today. It was a great opportunity to honor our Pope,” Wright remarked. “He really was a Pope for the people — all the people — especially the less fortunate and disadvantaged.”

She continued, “I admired him since he first came out to welcome the people after he became Pope. He was always so humble and down to earth, and I think he was a great example of how to work with those who don’t agree with you.”

In what proved to be an historic election to determine the 266th Successor to Saint Peter, Pope Francis, then as the 76-year-old Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elevated to the papacy in March 2013 to become the first Jesuit and first native of the Americas to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

His 12-year pontificate began and ended with his trademark humility and earthy demeanor, eschewing the traditional pomp, rights and privileges associated with the role of Bishop of Rome.

Saint Peter Cathedral parishioner Pablo Vizcarrondo shared that he usually attends the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass at the Cathedral, but felt it was important to attend the day’s Remembrance Mass for Pope Francis.

“I feel like there are special blessings by being here today for this Mass,” he remarked, claiming to be “a big fan” of Pope Francis. “I liked his ideas in supporting equality for all, especially for migrants.”

Fellow Cathedral parishioners Burlin and Ann Atanasoff of South Abington Township were “honored to be able to attend the memorial Mass for such a wonderful Pope and man.”

“We are here to pray for his soul, and also to pray for his successor,” Ann said. “It’s a sad day, but also a joyous day because we know that heaven has gained a saint.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Given the late Pope Francis’ care and concern for the poor, a representative group of them has been formally invited to welcome his casket to Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major for burial.

“The poor have a privileged place in the heart of God,” the Vatican press office said in a statement April 24. It was the same “in the heart and magisterium of the Holy Father, who had chosen the name Francis to never forget them.”

“For this reason, a group of the poor and needy will be present on the steps leading to the papal Basilica of St. Mary Major to pay their last respects to Pope Francis before the burial of his coffin,” the statement said.

The College of Cardinals decided Pope Francis’ funeral would be celebrated April 26 in St. Peter’s Square. In his final testament, Pope Francis asked to be buried at St. Mary Major where he frequently went to pray to seek Mary’s help or to thank her for her assistance.

The Vatican said the pope’s casket would be driven to the basilica from the Vatican through the city of Rome. The motorcade is supposed to move slowly so that members of the public along the route can salute him for the final time.

The actual burial is a prayerful rite that will not be broadcast live, said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.

Pope Francis’ tomb, in a niche in a side aisle of the basilica, is made of marble from Liguria and, in accordance with the pope’s wishes, says simply, “Franciscus.” A reproduction of his pectoral cross hangs above the marble slab.

In his final testament, published by the Vatican a few hours after his death April 21, Pope Francis asked to be buried at St. Mary Major because he had entrusted his “priestly and episcopal life and ministry” to Mary.

“I wish my last earthly journey to end at this very ancient Marian shrine where I would go to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and to thank her for her docile and maternal care,” he wrote.

PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) – Ten years ago, Pope Francis skimmed through cheering crowds at the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia — and when he stopped to kiss one baby girl named Gianna, her family’s life was changed forever.

“Pope Francis’ compassion and humility has left a mark on the world – and especially in our hearts,” Kristen Masciantonio, Gianna’s mother, told OSV News. “We have always and will always keep him in our hearts and prayers.”

The pope’s visit to the City of Brotherly Love was the final stop on his 2015 apostolic journey to the U.S. and Cuba, with pilgrims thronging Philadelphia’s downtown parkway area for a glimpse of the pontiff.

For the Masciantonios, simply being there that Sept. 26 with their daughter, who days prior had celebrated her first birthday, was a grace.

Shortly after her birth in 2014, Gianna Masciantonio – named for St. Gianna Beretta Molla, the Italian pediatrician who prioritized the life of her unborn child in her battle with cancer – had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Baby Gianna had been given only weeks or at most months to live.

She spent eight months in hospice, continuing to grow even amid the grim prognosis, with her family leaning on their deeply held Catholic faith to sustain them.

A glimmer of hope shone on Gianna’s first Christmas Eve, when Dr. Ira Dunkel of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York called to tell the family he didn’t believe the tumor was cancerous. Soon afterwards, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia performed a 10-hour biopsy on Gianna, which revealed systemic juvenile xanthogranuloma, or JXG.

A brutal regime of intensive chemotherapy and surgeries – 20 over a 15-month period – ensued, with the Masciantonios living day to day and praying the Seven Sorrows rosary with family and friends.

Standing in the late September sunshine amid the papal pilgrims, the family hoped Pope Francis’ presence would infuse them with desperately needed strength for Gianna’s ongoing treatment.

And then, a papal security agent in a crisp black suit swept Gianna up and lifted her to Pope Francis, who bent down from the popemobile to gently kiss her head and bless her.

The iconic image of the pope and Gianna captivated hearts across the world, with media calling the moment “The Miracle on Market Street.” In the months that followed, the tumor began to shrink as Gianna continued treatment.

For the Masciantonios, the papal encounter with Gianna was a sign of divine reassurance, with Pope Francis a “sanctified messenger” reminding them “God has been at our side through this entire journey.”

During the pope’s 2015 Philadelphia visit, the family also met Dr. Gianna Emanuela Molla, the youngest child of St. Gianna, at a local shrine honoring her mother, who had been named a patron of the 2015 World Meeting of Families.

Today, Gianna Masciantonio is a vibrant 10-year-old, returning to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for annual checkups on her health while enjoying her fourth grade studies and hobbies such as baking, art and spending time with her family and friends.

The Masciantonios have established the For the Love of Grace Foundation, evoking Gianna’s middle name – and the divine reality it signifies – to financially support other families grappling with childhood cancer and rare diseases.

Reflecting on Pope Francis’ passing from this life April 21 and his impact on her family, Kristen Masciantonio told OSV News, “We will be forever grateful for his blessing and for the countless prayers and support that have surrounded Gianna’s journey.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Novels and films that include or revolve around a conclave often include nefarious plotting, or at least politicking, and attempts to wing it when it comes to the rules for electing a new pope.

But “those rules are set in stone,” Kurt Martens, a professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, told Catholic News Service March 12, while at the Vatican to do research.

If something in the rules is unclear, the cardinals can seek to clarify it, “but that hasn’t happened” since St. John Paul II issued his rules for the conclave in the 1996 apostolic constitution, “Universi Dominici Gregis,” Martens said. The document was slightly revised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 and again just before he resigned in 2013.

“So, things are very clear,” the professor said, “they have to follow everything by the book.”

The rules specify that the cardinals should wait at least 15 days after the death or resignation of the pope to begin the conclave, but they should wait no more than 20 days. As of April 24, a date for the conclave had not been announced.

Only cardinals under the age of 80 when a pope dies or resigns are eligible to enter the Sistine Chapel to elect his successor. But with 135 potential cardinal electors, who have gathered as a group only when the latest were created in December, it cannot be said that they know each other well.

“They have never been in a gathering together other than a formal liturgical celebration,” Martens said. “They have never been in a meeting, in a consistory where they could exchange ideas with the pope and with each other.”

Although there were not quite so many electors, the conclaves that elected Blessed John Paul I in 1978, St. John Paul II in 1978, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013 all succeeded in sending up white smoke on the second day of the conclave.

And to be elected pope, a candidate must garner at least two-thirds of the votes.

“The Holy Spirit is the official answer” to the question of how the conclaves conclude so quickly, Martens said. But, in the church’s understanding of how that works, human cooperation with the Spirit is also involved.

The primary reason for a relatively quick election “is because the cardinals are prepared,” he said. “They have done their homework.”

The very first description in canon law of a cardinal’s task is to belong to “a special college which provides for the election of the Roman Pontiff.”

The cardinals know from the day they receive their red hats that electing a pope is a task unique to them. They will have met some cardinals over the years, worked with them as members of Vatican dicasteries and read about others.

But between the death or resignation of a pope and the start of the conclave, all the cardinals – both electors and those over the age of 80 – also meet daily in a general congregation.

There, they handle important church business but also discuss the state of the church and of the world. It is the formal occasion for a cardinal to hone his discernment about the qualities needed in the next pope. And the coffee breaks and mealtimes also help.

The cardinals do not openly ask each other, “Are you a candidate? Shall we elect you?” Martens said, but they pose questions and “they kind of put feelers out and whatnot.”

While the majority of cardinals are being asked to elect a successor to the pope who made them cardinals, it is unlikely they are looking for a carbon copy of the most recent pope.

History shows a trend of cardinals electing a candidate “to correct” some aspect of the last pope’s pontificate, Martens said. That is the source of the adage: “After a short pope, we have a tall pope. After a thin pope, we have a fat pope. After an intellectual, we have more a pastoral person.”

Another characteristic of the conclave, and even of the general congregation meetings, is the vow of secrecy binding all participants.

Martens said the concern for secrecy, affirmed and reaffirmed by recent popes when revising the conclave rules, is because the church wants to ensure “the election of the Roman Pontiff is free from external interference, both from pressure groups in the church as well as from political actors,” as has happened throughout history.

But, he said, today there are other ways people try to influence the outcome, particularly with websites and social media.

“There are people who are putting information out there that is not just information, but that is a way to influence potential cardinal electors,” he said. When the information provided is “colored in one way or another,” focusing on the authors’ key concerns or interpretations of Catholic orthodoxy, “technically speaking that falls under the conclave rules that forbid that you try to influence a future conclave.”

“The cardinals have to be free of any pressure, be it political pressure, be it pressure from civil governments, be it pressure from groups within or outside the church,” Martens said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – After the casket bearing Pope Francis’ body was placed in St. Peter’s Basilica, tens of thousands of mourners lined up to pay their respects.

The open casket was transferred April 23 from the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the pope had lived, to the basilica.

As the day progressed, two lines – one to the right of the basilica, the other circling around the left – formed. Moving at a snail’s pace, the lines converged at security checkpoints underneath the colonnade around St. Peter’s Square before joining as one massive line heading through the Holy Door and turning toward the central nave.

Waiting times varied, with some told to expect a three- or four-hour wait, while some people leaving the basilica had said it had taken nearly five hours.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said that in the first 24 hours viewing was open to the public, that is as of 11 a.m. April 24, more than 50,000 people paid their respects to Pope Francis, who died April 21.

The Vatican had originally announced that the basilica would close at midnight April 23-24. However, given the turnout, viewing hours were extended, with the basilica finally closing for 90 minutes at 5:30 a.m.

By April 24, coordination efforts with Rome police and civil protection agencies seemed more streamlined. Toward the north of the basilica, one massive line stretched across Rome’s Risorgimento Square leading to security checkpoints with volunteers sporting neon green vests guiding crowds along the city’s bustling streets.

By 8 a.m., thousands were already slowly making their way to the basilica.

Another line of pilgrims formed heading down the main road – Via della Conciliazione – leading to the basilica while a third line formed at the southern entrance, toward the left of the Bernini colonnade.

Consuelo and Ana, two friends from Valencia, Spain, who were in Italy on a group trip when the pope’s death was announced, spoke to Catholic News Service as they stood in line April 23.

The pope’s death “was a total surprise,” Ana said. “We had booked this flight in January, and when he got sick we were a little concerned, but we did not expect it.”

“His death truly was a surprise,” Consuelo added. “We saw him during Holy Week and even though he looked very weak, we did not expect him to pass away!”

The two friends told CNS that despite the heat from the Roman sun and an estimated four-hour waiting time ahead of them, they wanted to pay their respects.

Consuelo said she was saddened by Pope Francis’ death “because he gave himself to the people. He was a pope who wanted a church that was closer to today’s reality. And it hurts, it hurts (that he is gone). The church should open itself more to 21st-century society and that’s what he tried to do.”

Ana told CNS she was unfazed by the long wait in line and was “willing to wait until the end.”

“Look, I am an atheist, but I still admired him,” she said. “He was an exemplary pope who knew how to open up to new things, to a new society, to new worlds. I am here for this historic moment and taking advantage of the opportunity of being here in Rome.”

VATICAN CITY – To the chanting of Christ’s promise, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,” the mortal remains of Pope Francis were carried into St. Peter’s Basilica by 14 pallbearers.

Thousands of people had made an early morning pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Square April 23 to witness the transfer and pray for the late pope; they erupted in applause when his body, in an open casket, reached the square and again when it reached the top of the basilica steps.

The basilica was to be open until midnight April 23, from 7 a.m. to midnight April 24 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 25 for visits by the public. Another rite, to close the casket, was scheduled for late April 25. The pope’s funeral was scheduled for April 26 in St. Peter’s Square with burial to follow at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major.

U.S. Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, as chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, led the prayer service that accompanied the transfer of the body from the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the pope had lived and where he died April 21 at the age of 88.

More than 80 cardinals joined the procession ahead of Cardinal Farrell, who was wearing a red and gold cope, and immediately preceded the pallbearers flanked by members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

Directly behind the casket were the men closest to the pope in his final days: his nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti; his two valets; and his personal secretaries.

Three religious sisters and a laywoman, whom the pope had appointed to top positions in the Roman Curia, came behind them: Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist Raffaella Petrini, president of the office governing Vatican City State; Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Xavière Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops; and Emilce Cuda, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

The basilica’s bell-ringer sounded the death knell as the procession began.

To the singing of Psalms, beginning with “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23), the procession with the casket went into St. Peter’s Square amid the public and then up the central ramp – where Pope Francis would ride in the popemobile – and into the church.

Inside the basilica, the choir and assembly chanted the Litany of Saints and then “Subvenite Sancti Dei,” which begins with the petition: “Saints of God, come to his aid. Hasten to meet him, angels of the Lord. Receive his soul and present him to God the Most High.”

Pope Francis’ body, in a zinc-lined wooden casket covered in red fabric, was placed before the main altar on a low platform cut at an angle so that people coming to pay their respects could see his face.

Cardinal Farrell blessed the pope’s body with holy water and incense and led those assembled in praying the Lord’s Prayer.

Removing their red zucchettos, the cardinals bowed before the coffin, made the sign of the cross and left the basilica. They were followed by bishops, both those who work at the Vatican and those who head dioceses, then hundreds of priests and religious and top Vatican lay employees.

Mary Frances Brennan, who teaches at Kennedy Catholic High School in Seattle, was in the front row in St. Peter’s Square.

She said she had learned the pope had died just a few hours before her flight to Rome was scheduled to leave.

“It was devastating,” she said. “We really wanted to see the pope.”

“He’s my pope,” she said. “I love him and want to honor him.”

Additionally, Brennan said, “now all the people back home have a contact here and can see this through my eyes.”

Waiting in line later to enter the basilica, Adjani Tovar from Mexico City told Catholic News Service that Pope Francis “was a very disruptive pope: As a Jesuit, a true Jesuit, he naturally had a closer connection with people, especially young people.”

“He addressed topics that had been off-limits in the Catholic Church for a long time, and he’s going to be remembered as a turning point for all the openness he showed to different communities, for his focus on inclusion, his relationships with heads of state, and his constant calls for peace,” Tovar said.

ROME (OSV News) – Before he was Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas, he was Jorge Mario Bergoglio – a kid from Buenos Aires cheering for San Lorenzo, going to live games with his dad on Sundays.

In a country where soccer is practically a second religion, little Jorge found his first taste of joy, teamwork and heartbreak not in the sacristy – but on the pitch.

His devotion to San Lorenzo de Almagro isn’t just a nostalgic footnote – it’s a window into the soul of a pope who knew what it meant to love fiercely, hope deeply and stay loyal – win or lose.

Upon Pope Francis’ passing, San Lorenzo issued a poignant statement reflecting on his lifelong bond with the club: “His passion for San Lorenzo always moved us deeply, and unites us in constant prayer for his soul.”

Affectionately known as “El Ciclón,” this team holds a special place in Argentine soccer history, as one of the “big five” teams. Founded in 1908 by Father Lorenzo Massa, the club’s origins are deeply intertwined with the Catholic Church. The fans of the club are known as “the crows,” for the black cassock Father Massa wore.

Young Bergoglio’s passion for San Lorenzo was inherited from his father, Mario José, who played basketball for the club. Even as archbishop of Buenos Aires, the future pope maintained close ties with the club, officiating Mass at the Ciudad Deportiva chapel, confirming young players like Ángel Correa, and even spending $100 to buy a piece of wood from what used to be the bleachers of the original stadium.

In 2024, despite having shunned all but a handful of awards and public recognitions, according to the club’s statement, he accepted the honor of having San Lorenzo’s future stadium named Papa Francisco.

“Emotional, the Holy Father accepted without doubting it,” San Lorenzo said on April 21, hours after the death of the Argentine pontiff.

Pope Francis wrote in his autobiography “Hope” that he had been nicknamed “hard foot,” and often drew parallels between soccer and life’s broader lessons. In a 2019 address to Italian youth and athletes, he remarked: “Soccer is a team sport. You can’t have fun alone. And if it’s lived like that, it can do good for your mind and your heart in a society that is exasperated by subjectivism.”

Despite taking a vow in 1990 to abstain from watching television, Francis stayed updated on matches through the radio and, later, the Vatican’s Swiss Guards. They would inform him of San Lorenzo’s and Argentina’s results, ensuring he remained connected to his homeland’s passion.

For decades, Argentines have joked that when it comes to soccer, they’ve been divinely favored: They had “the Hand of God” in Diego Maradona and found their long-awaited “Messiah” in Lionel Messi.

Now, with Pope Francis watching from above, fans of San Lorenzo might just be wondering if their beloved Ciclón has an intercessor in heaven. After all, if soccer is a religion in Argentina, it only makes sense that one of its most faithful fans ended up a saintly supporter in the skies.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Growing old isn’t something to be feared, but rather something to embrace as a time of grace in one’s life, Pope Francis wrote in a preface for a book that was not released before he died.

“Yes, we must not fear old age. We should not be afraid to embrace growing old, because life is life, and sugarcoating reality means betraying the truth of things,” the pope wrote in the preface for “Waiting for a New Beginning: Reflections on Old Age.”

The book, which was written by Cardinal Angelo Scola, retired archbishop of Milan, was set to be released April 24 by the Vatican publishing house. Pope Francis, who had written the preface in early February, died April 21 at the age of 88.

Cardinal Scola’s reflections on how he was “preparing for his final encounter with Jesus” offered the “consoling certainty” that death was “not the end of everything, but the beginning of something new,” the pope had written.

“It is a new beginning, as the title wisely suggests, because eternal life – which those who love already begin to experience here on earth, in the midst of their daily occupations – is the start of something that will never end. And it is ‘new’ precisely because we will live something we have never experienced fully before: eternity,” he wrote.

Calling Cardinal Scola “a dear brother in the episcopate and a man who has carried out delicate and important responsibilities in the church,” the pope said he was grateful for the Italian cardinal’s reflection which “beautifully weaves together personal experience and cultural sensitivity.”

The late pope noted the 83-year-old cardinal’s “disarming candor” about his own old age and said he found “a sense of kinship with the author.”

“To restore dignity to a word too often seen as negative is something for which we should thank Cardinal Scola,” the pope wrote. “Because to say ‘old’ does not mean ‘worthless,’ as a throwaway culture would sometimes have us believe. Saying ‘old’ instead means saying experience, wisdom, understanding, discernment, prudence, attentiveness, slowness – all values we desperately need!”

Pope Francis said the real issue is not that one grows old but rather “how we grow old” and if it is lived “as a grace, and not with resentment.”

If “we accept this period – which is sometimes long, when our strength wanes, our bodies tire more easily, and our reflexes are not what they once were – with gratitude and appreciation, then even old age becomes a fruitful stage of life, just as Romano Guardini taught us: one that can radiate goodness,” he wrote.

The pope said he also appreciated Cardinal Scola’s reflections on “the human and social value of grandparents,” a subject he spoke about throughout his papacy.

“I have often emphasized how the role of grandparents is crucial to the balanced development of young people and, ultimately, to a more peaceful society,” he wrote. “Amid the frenzy of our societies – so often obsessed with the superficial and the unhealthy pursuit of appearances – the wisdom of grandparents becomes a beacon, shining through uncertainty and offering guidance to grandchildren, who can draw from their elders’ experience a deeper perspective on daily life.”

He also noted the cardinal’s words on the nature of suffering in one’s old age, which he said showed that the book was “born not just of thought but of affection — because it is precisely to this affective dimension that Christian faith points.”

“Christianity is not merely an intellectual exercise or a moral choice, but a loving attachment to a person — Christ, who came to meet us and chose to call us friends.”

Pope Francis concluded the preface saying that he wished “to repeat the gesture I made upon first donning the white robe of the papacy in the Sistine Chapel” and embrace Cardinal Scola “at least in spirit.”

“Now we are both older than we were that day in March 2013, but still united in gratitude to the loving God who offers us life and hope at every age and stage of our journey,” he wrote.

(OSV News) – World leaders offered condolences for Pope Francis almost immediately after the pontiff died April 21 — a reflection of popes’ importance in diplomacy and geopolitics.

Pope Francis exercised an outsized role in world affairs with his pleas for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, advocacy for the rights of migrants and dealing with hostile regimes persecuting the church such as Nicaragua.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid the most viral tribute to the pontiff, saying on his X account: “Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing. His life was devoted to God, to people, and to the Church.”

In a post accompanied by a picture of him with the pontiff, Zelenskyy said Pope Francis “knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity.”

Acknowledging the pope’s special relationship with Ukraine, he said: “He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support.”

King Charles III, who recently visited with Pope Francis, sent a condolence telegram reading, “The Queen and I recall with particular affection our meetings with His Holiness over the years and we were deeply moved to be able to visit him earlier this month.”

Other world leaders fondly recalled personal meetings with Francis, too, or working alongside him.

“I saw firsthand his unwavering commitment to placing human dignity at the center of our economic and political systems,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said of his participation in the pope’s Council for Inclusive Capitalism.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who maintained a friendship with the Holy Father, said shortly after his death, “Pope Francis has returned to the home of the Father. We are deeply saddened by this news, as a great man and great shepherd has left us.”

French President Emmanuel Macron lauded Pope Francis, saying, “From Buenos Aires to Rome, Pope Francis wanted the Church to bring joy and hope to the poorest. For it to unite humans among themselves, and with nature. May this hope forever outlast him.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda called him a “great apostle of mercy.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world lost “an advocate for the weak, a reconciling and a warm-hearted person.” He added, “I greatly appreciated his clear view of the challenges we face.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke graciously of Pope Francis, saying, “From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For those who were suffering, he ignited a spirit of hope.”

He continued, “I fondly recall my meetings with him and was greatly inspired by his commitment to inclusive and all-round development.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog expressed condolences to all Christians and expressed thanks to Pope Francis for peace efforts in Gaza. “I very much hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered,” he said, adding: “May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope.”

Pope Francis was remembered by Catholics in his native Argentina as a pastor who prioritized the poor. But politicians often tried to pull him into domestic disputes.

President Javier Milei, who spoke ill of the pope prior to winning office in 2023, said on social media: “Despite differences that seem minor today, having been able to know him in his kindness and wisdom was a true honor for me.”

Pope Francis became the first Latin American pope with his 2013 election. He was remembered fondly in the region by leaders on all sides of the political spectrum.

“For me, he is a companion in struggle, in travel, in history,” leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on X.

“A humanist who opted for the poor, peace and equality,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who identifies as non-religious, said of Pope Francis on X. “For Catholics and those that are not, it is a great loss.”

Even leaders with difficult or strained relations with the church expressed condolences.

Nicaragua’s co-presidents signed a surprising statement mourning the death of Pope Francis, despite persecuting the Catholic Church, severing ties with the Vatican and forcing bishops and dozens of priests into exile. “Our relations … were difficult, eventful, unfortunately influenced by adverse and painful circumstances that were not always understood,” said the statement from co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo.

Nicaraguans on social media blasted the condolences as cynical.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded the pope for promoting dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. He said in a telegram, “Pope Francis enjoyed great international respect as a faithful servant of Christian teachings, a wise spiritual leader, statesman, and a consistent advocate of the high values of humanism and justice.”

Relations between the pope and the Vatican became strained after Russia’s 2022 invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

At his final “urbi et orbi” (to the city and to the world) message, Pope Francis said: “May the risen Christ grant Ukraine, devastated by war, his Easter gift of peace, and encourage all parties involved to pursue efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Religious leaders from around the world mourned the death of Pope Francis April 21, hailing him as a tireless advocate for interreligious dialogue and unity among faith traditions.

From Buddhist monks to Protestant bishops and Muslim scholars, tributes highlighted the late pope’s deep personal commitment to building bridges between religious communities, often through historic meetings and joint declarations that left a lasting mark on the global religious landscape.

Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar mosque and university considered to be a preeminent scholar in Sunni Islam, called Pope Francis “a brother in humanity” who led a “life devoted to the service of humanity, championing the causes of the vulnerable and promoting dialogue among religions and cultures.”

“Pope Francis was a humanitarian icon of the highest order,” the grand imam said in a statement posted on Facebook April 21. “Under his papacy, the relationship between Al-Azhar and the Vatican experienced remarkable growth, beginning with His Holiness’s participation in the Al-Azhar International Conference for Peace in 2017 (in Cairo, Egypt), and followed by the historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 (in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates).”

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, remembered the late pope as “a true moral leader, a man of deep faith and humanity, and a steadfast friend to the Jewish people.”

“From his early years in Argentina to his papacy,” Lauder wrote, “Pope Francis was deeply committed to fostering interfaith dialogue and ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust remained a guiding lesson for future generations.”

Among Pope Francis’ closest interreligious collaborators was Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Batholomew of Constantinople, who said the pope was “a faithful friend, companion and supporter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

In a statement delivered via livestream on Facebook, the patriarch recalled their meeting in Jerusalem in 2014, where they prayed before the tomb believed to be where Jesus resurrected.

He added that he had proposed to the pope that they celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea together in Turkey, to which Pope Francis enthusiastically responded: “This is an amazing thought, an amazing idea and proposal,” according to a translation by The Orthodox Times. Now, however, the Catholic Church’s participation in the celebration will be left to Pope Francis’ successor, the patriarch said.

Anglican Bishop Anthony Poggo, secretary-general of the Anglican Communion, said Pope Francis’ legacy included “renewal of the Church’s structures through synodality and the voice of women and lay people” — developments that drew strength from ecumenical friendships.

“His commitment to dialogue, understanding and shared mission opened new avenues of collaboration between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion,” Bishop Poggo said. The pope traveled with the then-Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the Rev. Iain Greenshields, former moderator of the Church of Scotland on what he called a “pilgrimage of peace” to South Sudan in 2024.

Leaders of the World Methodist Council reflected on a private audience they had with Pope Francis in December 2024, recalling how he addressed historical suspicion between Catholics and Methodists with honesty and warmth, saying, “We are progressing together in knowledge, in mutual understanding and love.”

In a joint statement, Methodist Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, president of the council, and Rev. Reynaldo Leão Neto, council secretary-general, called the late pope “a voice for unity in love and diversity.”

The Lutheran World Federation noted the pope’s pivotal role in ecumenical milestones such as the 2016 joint commemoration of the Reformation in Lund, Sweden. The Rev. Anne Burghardt, LWF secretary-general, said, “We give thanks for his life and legacy of reform, renewal and unity, which opened doors of dialogue and brought the church closer to people from all walks of life.”

Nearly all the leaders expressed hope that the strengthened relations forged under the late pope would continue to grow deeper; Patriarch Bartholomew prayed for God to “raise up on the throne of St. Peter a worthy successor who will embrace the ideals of Pope Francis and continue his valuable work for all humanity.”